Friday, June 30, 2017

This is a particularly pleasant morning.
Just the four of us in the tennis court
while the world still seems to be in deep slumber. My usual early morning Canadian
pals assemble at the Erin mills lawn tennis court as we have been doing
religiously with great fervor for the past five years.

The same faces, same place and the same
game. We have all been so closely acquainted during this period and known each
other so well that there is nothing more to discover about each other. Or so it
seems. But still strangely the
excitement of gathering at the same spot week end after week end doesn’t seem
to wear off or wane.

The fact that we are four different personalities
from four wildly varying cultural backgrounds – Ukrainian, Chinese and Egyptian
and, myself, South Asian – doesn’t bother any of us or make us feel
uncomfortable with one another. In fact I find it exciting and spiritually
uplifting to interact with others who look different from myself. At times, I
wonder if I do not have a better vibe with these associates and feel closer to them
than even my own family members. Never
mind our variations in facial features, color, religion, cultural beliefs and
practices, race or even the way English is spoken etc.

As one who has had a peep into the
world of psychology, I can say that psychological truths and factors governing human
relations apply equally to everyone without exception, whatever culture or whichever
region of the world one belongs to. The only requirement to be able to
appreciate this is a willingness to see and understand things different from
one’s own with an open mind.

On a lighter note, the numerous
different ways the supposedly same language is spoken makes me wonder sometimes
if all of us are speaking English at all. I am not saying this out of any
prejudice; it’s just a statement borne out by reality - one that I find
exciting and enjoyable.

Sometimes, of course, it takes quite an effort to
decipher what someone is saying, even if the ideas are quite straightforward, and for sure, I realize that I stand on the same footing myself. I am very
conscious that one’s native tongue influences one’s accent and pronunciations
while speaking another language. But after all, language is only a means to
convey ideas, and if that purpose is served reasonably well, why bother about
other insignificant variables; accents in particular?

Catching up again on my tennis club
culture, let me say this: If a non-Canadian wants to understand the
multicultural character of Canada, all he or she needs to do is visit our
tennis club on any given summer evening when the majority of members congregate
for a game of tennis, friendly chatter and banter. A representation of the
multicultural ethos and unique values of Canada can be seen being practiced in
our tennis court, with fraternal feelings running strong. Members stretch
themselves to be appreciative of the culture of people different from their own
without being condescending. Of course, they are all bound by the common thread
of love for tennis and, even better, proud of their common identity as Canadian.

I think the best way to explain
anything is through one’s own first hand experiences. So speaking a little
about my own story and experiences after I migrated to Canada from India about
a decade back would be in order. No change is absolutely easy to manage. The
more drastic the change, the harder it is to face up to it with equanimity. So
when someone tries to uproot the whole of his being and that of his close
family members from one’s culture to something vastly different, it is bound to
cause a flurry of disturbing emotions and psychological responses in ever many
different ways.

This is so in spite of the best
preparation. Fear of the unknown causes tremendous anxiety and, to be sure, is
only one of the many factors causing great stress and perhaps distress at times.

I still remember the day when I first
placed my foot on Toronto soil at Lester Pearson along with my wife and young
son on the 1st August 2006, lugging ten big suitcases, and not a
soul waiting expectantly for us at the airport. I knew no one in Toronto. The
money we had on hand was substantial by Indian standards but hardly enough to
survive for long in Canada. The fact that the responsibility was all mine and
mine alone for the well-being of, not just myself, but my family members as
well weighed heavily on me. Fortunately I did have a small dingy basement
apartment in a far corner of the city rented y prior arrangement through the
internet.

Now for someone like me who was very
well settled professionally and personally and well provided for financially in
my native land, choosing to migrate for reasons that may appear questionable or
unwise to some, you would expect the initial experience to be really nerve-wracking.
But let me assure you that it was far from being unpleasant. Canada, the country
of immigrants, seemed to know all about my predicament and the struggle every
new immigrant wages to settle down and find his or her feet.

I found Canada and whoever I had to
interact with welcoming from the word go. Completing the initial formalities of
getting a SIN card, opening of bank accounts, attending acclimatization
training programs, attending job fairs, presenting myself for interviews, etc. –
wherever I went or whatever I did, I realized that as long as I remained
earnest in whatever I wanted to accomplish and strove sincerely, the society
and system here would take care of the rest.

Certain environments encourage
creativity and others discourage creativity. The Canadian environment, without
a doubt, is one which reaches out to encourage creativity and enables newcomers
to slide smoothly into the community and to identify with the larger society.

Lastly, I must say this: While every
country on this planet may be able to claim with justification and pride that
it is better than others on some count or the other, for me no nation comes
even close to Canada on a variety of parameters, particularly on the inclusive
nature of the society; the multicultural ethos and values; the egalitarian and
sophisticated culture; in welcoming immigrants, refugees and the displaced from
all parts of the world; and in much more – Canada is indeed in a league of its
own

Shankar Swaminathan immigrated to Canada from India in August 2006 along with
his wife and younger son. Besides being a HR and Training Consultant in India,
Shankar was a freelance writer for over a couple of decades and a regular
contributor to various national dailies in India. He also edited and regularly
wrote for a monthly journal by name, Nandini
Voice for the Deprived run by the nonprofit organization he was closely
associated with. Presently Shankar is active as a
freelance counselor and writer and has his Counseling website http://www.speakurmindcounseling.com/

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Note: Don't ever miss a post on Quick Brown Fox. Fill in
your email in the box to the right under my bio, and get each post delivered to
your Inbox. ~ Brian

It’s difficult finding agents who
represent short story collections, because there’s not much money in short
stories. But I’ve uncovered half a dozen agents who are seeking short stories
and who are currently accepting submissions:

Chad LuiblofJanklow and Nesbit. This is a large
firm with many well-known authors. Chad Luibl is an assistant there, very low
on the totem pole. But that’s okay; it means he needs clients.

He says: “I tend to lean more toward darker tales and gritty settings,
culture-crossing perspectives, structures that are a bit experimental (see
David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas), and always narratives with a strong emotional
core. Having lived in Poland and Hungary, I have a niche-interest in books that
feel Eastern European in voice/perspective (or explore post-Soviet and Cold War
themes), and I find anything that deals with exile and expatriation immediately
arresting.”

Include the word “Query” in the subject
line. Send your query letter, a synopsis and the first fifty pages of your
manuscript attached as a word document.

Katie Grimm ofDon Congdon Associates: This is a prominent well-established agency that’s been around since
1938. They represented Ray Bradbury (author of Farenheit 451 among other
well-known science fiction books) and currently represent such well-known
authors as David Sedaris (Theft by
Finding) and Kathryn Stocket (The
Help).

The key is “cohesive” collections of stories – there needs to be
something strong holding them together.

Katie says: “Most generally, I focus on adult literary fiction,
narrative nonfiction, middle grade, and young adult fiction. Across all
genres and ages, I’ll always be interested in the darker and weirder side of
the human condition as well as previously under- or misrepresented experiences
and voices.”

Include the
word “Query” and the agent’s full name in your subject heading. As always in a
query, include a short description of your work and your relevant background
information and must all fit easily on one page. Also paste the first story of
your collection into the email. No attachments.

Christopher Rhodeshas been
involved in the publishing business and agenting for years, but only recently
joined The Stuart Agency. Prior to that, he was an
agent at The James Fitzgerald Agency. Previous to that, he worked at The Carol
Mann Agency and in the sales and marketing departments at Simon and Schuster.

For fiction, include the
first 50 pages; for nonfiction, include a proposal. A Word document or a PDF is
fine.

Waverly Place Literary Agency. This is a one-woman outfit for literary agent Debbie Carter, Who doesn’t seem to have many (or perhaps any) sales. She’s seeking short story and poetry collections with popular
appeal.Update: Debbie has written me a note to correct this posting: Brian Henry -- I wish you had called me before posting your article. I sold the award-winning children's story collection The Adventures of Molly Whuppie & Other Appalachian Folktales by Anne Shelby. {To University of North Carolina Press; see here.} As a result of my promotion efforts, the collection won an Aesop Award from the American Folklore Society and a state reading award--the Delaware Diamond from students in grades 3-5. The book was also published in China. I wish I had a long list of sales, but I have very specific tastes which you'll find on my website under "Areas of Interest." I'm look for quality short fiction for adults and children (excluding short short fiction and short genre fiction) that will sell. I don't want junk, but that doesn't mean junk can't get published.

Renée
Zuckerbrot founded the Renée Zuckerbrot Literary Agencyafter working as an editor at Doubleday and Franklin Square
Press/Harper’s Magazine. She is a member of theAARandAuthors
Guild. She serves onPEN’s
Membership Committee, and is a Board member of theCouncil of Literary Magazines
and Presses(CLMP) andSlice
Magazine. You can read an interview with Renée and
her colleagues at Poets & Writers. See her top ten list of short stories
at Storyville.

Authors represented by Renée have won or been nominated for
the Pulitzer Prize, the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Fiction, the PEN
Jacqueline Bograd Weld Prize for Biography, the National Magazine Award, the
William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the NYPL Young Lions Fiction
Award, B&N’s Discover Great New Writers Award, the Story Prize, the PEN/O.
Henry Prize, the Shirley Jackson Award, the Locus, the Hugo, the Nebula, the
Pushcart, and others.

Include a synopsis of your project, your publication history (if any),
a brief bio, and your contact information. Please also attach an excerpt, up to
three sample chapters (or three short stories), as one Word document. The
attachment should be paginated and double-spaced.

Bringing Up Beauty by Sylvia McNicoll,
one of the guest speakers for
the Writing Kid Lit class

Brian Henry will lead“You can write great dialogue," workshops on Saturday, July 15, in Mississauga (seehere) and Saturday, July 22,
in London (see here).

And
there are three weekly creative writing courses, introductory to advanced,
starting soon:

Navigation
tips: Always check out the labels
underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of
postings. Also, if you're searching for a literary agent who represents a
particular type of book, check outthis post.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Note: Don't ever miss a post on Quick Brown Fox. Fill in your email in the box
to the right under my bio and get each post delivered to your Inbox. Also, if
you’re not yet on my newsletter, send me an email, including your locale, to: brianhenry@sympatico.ca ~ Brian

Crannógis Ireland’s premiere fiction and poetry
magazine. Cronnog’s mission is to publish the work of Irish writers alongside
the best available worldwide. Pays: €50 per story, €30 per poem.

Deadline: Submissions open July 1, close July 31, 2017. Submission guidelines here.

Pantheonmagazine publishesfiction and poetry inspired by the gods and goddesses.Pays 1 cent/word for fiction, $5 for poetry.

For the fall, they’re seeking pieces prompted by Tethys, Titaness of
fresh water: Tethys is the Titan daughter of the sky and the earth, guardian of
fresh water, mother of the river gods and sea nymphs.

“Tell us stories about rivers and inland seas, about water caverns–and those
who protect them. Tell us about what happens to those who trespass against
Tethys. We want to read about the delicate creatures blooming in rain puddles
and about the dark awareness at the bottom of cenotes.

“Pantheon Magazine is
interested in fresh, creative, and powerful fiction that grips us and doesn’t
let us go. We like it quick and concise, dammit. Longer work is also considered,
but brevity is appreciated. We have short attention spans. Please include a
note as to how your story is inspired or relates to the theme/prompt you are
submitting to. If you do not do this, we cannot guarantee your story will be
read. A single sentence is sufficient.”

For
poetry, Pantheon is “fond ofform andvery partial to poems that end infireworks – literal,
figurative – this is open to interpretation. We want poems that
dazzle, that leave us breathless, that explode with meaning and beauty.

“We’re primarily a
fiction magazine, but as we are also music and movie lovers, we always welcome
music, movie, and book reviews, so
long as the music/movie/book you are reviewing is relatively new. Preferably
within the past month or two. We’re a little more lenient with music and book
reviews, as there’s so much good stuff out there that’s overlooked. Please
follow the same formatting guidelines (more or less) as fiction submissions. Please
keep reviews under 1000 words.

“Would you like to be
our featured cover artist for one of our issues? Email a sample of you work to:
PantheonMag@Gmail.com

“We’ll get back in
touch.

“Every so often, we will
do interviews with authors/musicians
who we like. Feel free to email us if you are working on a project that you
would like to chat with us about.

Barking Sycamoresis a literary journal entirely edited and
operated by queer, neurodivergent people of color. Publishes Poetry, short
fiction, hybrid genre, creative nonfiction, book reviews, and artwork
submissions. They also welcome and publish essays about neurodivergence and the
creation of literature. Payment not specified.

Deadline: July 31, 2017.
Submission guidelines here.
RoomFamily Secrets issue.All families
have secrets. Rooted in guilt and shame, and passed on through the generations,
these secrets can have unexpected reverberations in the present. We're seeking
your best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. and

visual art that explores
and exposes the dark and tangled secrets that haunt and shape family narratives. Room publishes original work by women,
including trans persons, gender-variant and two-spirit women, and women of
non-binary sexual orientations. Men not welcome.

Pays: $50 CAD for one page, $60 for two pages, $90 for three
pages, $120 for four pages, $150 for five or more pages.

Ever stayed up all night
reading a book?In this workshop, you’ll learn you
how to build that kind of tension. And we'll help you put into
practice the techniques professionals use – on every page and in every kind of
story – to create drama and tension.

Workshop leader Brian Henryhas been a book editor
and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick
Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers, teaches
creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from
Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that
he has helped many of his students get published.

Brian Henry has been a book editor, writer, and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson University. He also leads weekly creative writing courses in Burlington, Mississauga, Oakville and Georgetown and conducts Saturday workshops throughout Ontario. His proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.